nichols



G. H. NICHOLS.

ALARM MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2. 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

SEASON G. H. NICHOLS.

ALARM MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-2| I9I5.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAYLE H. NICHOLS, OF DOUGLAS, ARIZONA, ASSIGNOR TQ AUSTIN M. GODSHALL, OF

DOUGLAS, ARIZONA.

ALARM MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 22, 1916.

Application filed March 2, 1915. Serial No. 11,546.

.elcd a certain number of miles, in order to apprise the owner of this fact.

It is also a particular object to prevent the unauthm'ized borrowing of a machine by persons other than the owner since the device may be so set as to immediately sound an alarm if the machine is run thereafter.

A further and more specific object is to provide a device to be used in conjunction with the ordinary speedometer without requiring any change in the latter save the provision of the additional means in the same casing and the employment of rows of grooves in the ordinary mileage wheels so that the device may be cheaply manufaclured and installed'as well as being durable and eflicient in operation.

The above and additional objects which will become apparent as this explanatory description proceeds, are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

lVith reference to the drawings, wherein there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention as it is reduced to practice and throughout the several views of is a detail and enlarged view showing an ele vation of the device in operation, Fig. 3 is a similar view also enlarged and fragmentary,-

Fig. 4 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the speedometer casing being shown in section, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the illustrations of the alarm speedometer and primarily to Fig. 1, the numeral 10 designates the metallic casing rim inclosing a plate 11 of some transparent material which is placed in front of a dial -12 in order to render the same readilyobservable as is customary in devices of this character.

Numerals ranging from 0 to 70 are semi circularly scribed as designated by the numeral 13 and indicate the speed in miles er hour of the vehicle, while designated in ifierent portions of the dial 12 by the numerals 14 and 15 are rows of apertures through which are visible character bearing wheels setting forth the movement of miles of the trip and of the season, such wheels being operated in the usual manner and by mechanism such as is given the general designation 16 in Fig. 4 which need not be described at any length herein as having no bearing upon the present invention. a

The wheels themselves are used in the present instance with no material change except in the. provision of peripheral grooves 17 for each season wheel 18. These grooves are shallow concave depressions in the periphery of the wheels, as shown in Fig. 5, and are comparatively short with convexly curved ends, one groove being made use of for each character carried by the wheel 18 (0 to 9 inclusive) these grooves being relatively offset in both directions with respect to each other to present when summed, a spiral course commencing at one side of each wheel and finishing upon the opposite side thereof. Otherwise, however, these Wheels which are those indicating the seasons mileage are mounted upon a shaft 19 and controlled by the mechanism 16 in the usual and well-known manner. The special means adapted to coact with each of these wheels in fulfilling the purposes of this invention consists of set wheels of which there is one for each of the mileage wheels which latter are superimposed over the set wheels in the manner illustrated and separated therefrom by a. slight distance. The set wheels 20 are each mounted for independent rotation upon a shaft 21 and consist of an outer rim 22 which is correspondingly numbered and which is connected to the hub 23 by means of suitable side plates 24 providing such wheels with av hollow interior chamber. A number of spokes 25 are loosely mounted in suitable sockets 26 ot' the hub and extend in a similar manner through apertures 27 of the rim, such apertures being alined with the sockets in the manner illustrated particularly in Fig. 5. These spokes are also spirally alined around the periphery of the set wheels in the same manner as the grooves 17 of the mileage wheels but with the course of the spiral so determined that when the numeral 4, for instance, is shown on one of the set wheels through the dial-face aperture 28 which renders these set wheels and their numbers visible in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the vertically uppermost spoke 25 will enter the lowermost groove 17 of the mileage Wheel providing the numeral 4 of this wheel is also visible through its respective aperture 15. In other words the spiral courses of these spokes and grooves are respectively so arranged that a spoke for each character of the set Wheels will enter a similarly positioned groove for .the same character of the mileage wheels when such characters are simultaneously visible.

The advantage of this mechanical adjustment will be hereinafter appreciated when the operation of this alarm speedometer is exactly set forth but meanwhile it is to be noted that the spokes are resiliently forced into engagement with their proper grooves by means of the arcuate leaf springs 29, one of which surrounds each spoke and bears against the hub 23 and a cross piece 30 transversely positioned on each spoke interiorly of the rim 22. 'Pivoted upon a bar 31 which extends transversely through the speedometer casing and in the rear of and below the mileage wheels 18 are a series of arms 32, one for each mileage wheel and all having their outermost free extremities upwardly bent as at and subsequently looped as at 34, to partially embrace a contact rod 35 but capable of moving freely from the same in a vertical upward movement although normally prevented from such movement by means of light coilsprings 36 which extend downwardly from each arm 32 at the bottom of the speedometer casing. Thecontact rod 35 is suspended at its extremities by similar coil springs 37 also very light-acting and tensioned by the position of the arms 32 illustrated in Fig. 4, yet capable of drawing this rod upwardly when the arms 32 are given the upward movement shown in Fig. 5. A stationary contact 38 is provided at one extremity of this movable contact rod and is a terminus for a suitable conductor 39 which leads to an alarm of any desirable character 40, the opposite wire of the circuit 41 passing through any suitable source of difference of potential 42 and being connected in the usual manner to the upwardly movable contact 35. It is to be further noted that the cross pieces 30 of the spokes 25 each project outwardly a suliicient distance from their respective set wheels to contact with the arm 32 for the particular mileage superimposed above such set wheel and it may be here noted that such cross pieces are designed to contact with these arms in removing the same from engagement with the rod 35 to permit the circuit to close and ti a alarm to sound.

In operation, supposing that the owner of the vehicle is desirous of being notified when a certain number of miles have been traversed by the vehicle, the set wheels are respectively positioned to indicate when read from left to right in the usual manner the number of miles which the owner has desired to maintain as a limit. As illustrated these wheels have been set to limit the travel of the vehicle to 13,456 miles and it will be apparent that according to the principle previously laid down that it is only when a similar number is designated by the characters of the mileage wheels 18 that the respective spokes of the set wheels will be enabled to enter the corresponding grooves of the superimposed mileage wheels. It will be noticed from Figs. 2 and 3 that the mileage and set wheels have been oppositely numbered as the latter moving loosely upon their shaft 21 are maintained from' movement by any rotation of the wheels 18 through the medium of a pawl and ratchet mechanism 33, the pawl being carried by the hub 23 and the ratchet being fixed to the shaft 21 so that any frictional engagement between. the rotating peripheries of the wheels 18 with the spokes 25 normally projecting into contact with such peripheries will be unable to overcome the locking effect of this ratchet arrangement. Immediately that all of the mileage wheels register characters corresponding to their respective set wheels, it will be apparent that all of the particular spokes 25 corresponding to the characters set by the wheels 20 will enter their corresponding grooves 17 and accordingly, under the influence of the spring 29 will be enabled to move vertically a somewhat greater distance than usual which will bring the cross pieces 30 into such contact with the various arms 32 as to pivotally raise these arms upwardly from their retaining engagement with the contact rod 35, enabling in turn, the light springs 37 supporting this rod to effect the contact with the stationary point 38 where by a closing of the circuit through the alarm signal is completed, thereby notifying the drlver of the vehlcle that the said sum of miles has been traveled by the vehicle. Once with each rotation of each mileage wheel the grooves 17 will be brought into position to be entered by a spoke 25 on each set wheel immediately below, but until the mileage wheels indicate the exact distance shown by the set wheels, it spoke 25 on each set Wheel can not enter a groove 17 in each mileage wheel and until a spoke on each set wheel does so enter a groove,v all the arms 32 will not belit'ted by the cross pieces 30 on-the spokes to release the contact rod 35 and permit said rod to be drawn up by its springs 37 and close the circuit through contact 38 thereby sounding the alarm. Whenever :1 spoke 25 enters a groove 17 at any period before the ultimate distance, as indicated by the set wheels, is reached the operating mechanism 16 will at its next stroke posi' tively turn the wheel 18 and depress the spoke 25, the corners of thedepression 17 being rounded as shown to permit and assist this movement of the spoke. The spokes therefore do not form a lock for the mileage wheels but are disengaged therefrom as the set wheels are turned by the operating mechanism. If it is desired to prevent unauthorized joy-riding the owner has but to set upon the wheels '20 the total amount indicated by the mileage wheels 18 but-one mile greater so that all of the spokes are received in their respective grooves although the contact rod is prevented from its upward movement by the single arm 32 which has not been raised. Upon the attempt of any person to run the vehicle, a mile or over. this last arm will he moved so that the last bar to the raisiiig of the contact rod is removed and the contact accordingly. etl'ected to notify bystanders that an attempt is being made to unlawfully borrow the vehicle.

While in the foregoing however, there has thus been illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is desired to emphasize the tact that such minor changes in the matters of proportion and degree may be made in later adaptations of this device as shall not alter the spirit of the invention as defined in the. appended claims.

What is claimed is: I

l. In an alarm mechanism, the combination with the usual mileage wheels having a row of grooves or depressions arranged spirally around its periphery, of set wheels positioned thereunder, spokes projecting through the rims of said set wheels to contact with the rims of said mileage wheels and engage said grooves when in alinement therewith, and a circuit closer actuated when a spoke of each set wheel enters a groove in each mileage wheel.

'2. In an alarm mechanism, the combination with the usual mileage wheels, set wheels positioned thereunder, spokes projecting through the rims of said set wheels in spiral courses, to enter similarly arranged grooves in said mileage wheels when both series of wheels register similarly and a circuit closer actuated thereby.

3. In an alarm mechanism, mileage wheels formed with peripheral grooves in spiral courses, a set wheel for each mileage wheel, a contact rod in circuit with an alarm, means withholding said rod from the completion of said circuit, and means projecting from each of said set wheels to enter said grooves and release first said means.

4. In an alarm mechanisim'the combination with mileage wheels formed with peripheral grooves in spiral courses, of a set wheel positioned under each mileage wheel, a contact rod in circuit with an alarm, means withholding said rod from the completion of said circuit and spokes projecting through the rims of said set wheels to resiliently con tact with said mileage wheels and to enter the latter with each mileage and set wheel similarly registering to complete said circuit by releasing said holding means.

5. In an alarm mechanism, mileage wheels formed with peripheral grooves in spiral courses, a set wheel for each mileage wheel, a contact rod in circuit with an alarm, arms pivoted to withhold said rod from the completion of said circuit, and spokes projecting through the rims of said set wheels to contact with said mileage wheels in spiral courses and to enter said grooves when corresponding mileage and set wheels similarly register to complete said circuit by releasing said arms.

6. In an alarm mechanism, mileage wheels formed with peripheral grooves in spiral courses, a set wheel for each mileage wheel formed with rim apertures in opposite spiral courses, spokes projecting through said rims to resiliently contact with corresponding mileage wheels, a contact rod in circuit with an alarm, pivoted arms withholding said rod from a completion of said circuit, and resilient means permitting said spokes to enter said grooves with each pair of mileage and set wheels similarly registering to complete said circuit by releasing said arms.

7. In an alarm mechanism, mileage wheels formed with peripheral grooves in spiral courses, a set wheel positioned below each mileage wheel and formed with rim apertures in opposite spiral courses, a contact rod resiliently in circuit with an alarm, arms pivoted to withhold said rod from a completion of said circuit, spokes projecting through said rim apertures to resiliently contact with corresponding mileage wheels, and cross arms carried by said spokes normally out of contact with said arms but adapted to engage and release the same from said rod when said spokes are accommodated in the corresponding mileage grooves.

8. In an alarm mechanism, a pair of shafts,

mileage wheels mounted on one of said shafts," set wheels mounted on the other of said shafts and one below each mileage wheel, a contact rod resiliently suspended and in circuit with an alarm, arms pivoted between each adjacent pair of set Wheels to withhold said rod from the completion of said circuit, spokes arranged on each of said set Wheels to contact with the superimposed mileage Wheel, cross bars carried on said spokes to engage said arms, and means formed in said mileage wheels to accommodate said spokes, to permit said arms to be raised and said circuit tobe completed when said set and mileage Wheels similarly register.

9. In an alarm mechanism, a casing, a pair of shafts in said casing, mileage wheels set Wheels to withhold said rod from a completion of said circuit, said rod being in the paths of said cross bar and resiliently controlled, further resilient means operating upon said spokes, and spirally arranged grooves formed in each mileage wheel to acmesses eommodate one of the spokes'of the set wheel when both wheels similarly register to permit said further resilient means to raise said arms and permit said rod to close the circuit to said alarm.

10. In an alarm mechanism, a casing, a pair of shafts in said casing, mileage wheels mounted on first said shaft and adapted to be driven to indicate miles traveled, a set Wheel loosely mounted on the other of said shafts immediately below each mileage wheel and adapted to be manually positioned to indicate a limiting distance for said mileage wheel, spirally arranged grooves fOIll'lOd in each mileage wheel, resiliently and spirally arranged spokes carried in each set wheel to contact with the surface of said mileage wheel and to enter corresponding grooves when both Wheels similarly register, a contact rod in circuit with an alarm, resilient means'tending to complete said circuit, pivoted arms engaging said rod, second resilient means for said arms normally tending to prevent a completion of said circuit and cross bars carried by each of said spokes to engage said arm against the tension of second said resilient means to permit first said re- 'silient means to cause a completion of said circuit and to sound an alarm when both pairs of wheels similarly register.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GAYLE H. NICHOLS.

Witnesses:

G. HLHIRs'r, C. HARoLn Hms'r. 

